Dental cleansing and massage device



April 1937- I H. WELKER 2,077,540

DENTAL CLEANSING AND MASSAGE DEVICE Filed Oct. 11, 1934 Harry L. WeZ/ter Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNETEE TATES Wm erriee This invention relates to a new and useful flexible dental cleaning and massaging device.

The invention has for its main object the provision oidental devices of the finger cot type, in

which such devices are provided with rows of flexible teeth or bristles adapted for cleansing and messaging the gums of the user; and in which the devices are provided with reservoirs for a dentifrice adapted to be expressed on the aforesaid teeth or bristles by pressure applied thereto as in the act of cleansing the teeth of the user.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

is in the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view illustrating one term of the invention as positioned for use upon the finger of a person;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the a line 2-5. of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section through a modified form of the device shown in Figure 1; and v Figure 4 is an end elevation of the form of the device shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, in which like parts are designated by like numerals:

The simplest form of this device comprises a finger cot 6 formed of resilient material such as rubber. A reservoir Iv is formed integral with 30 the out 6 and is provided with a slot 8 establishing communication between the interior of the reservoir 1, and the bristles or teeth I which project from the reservoir I.

The reservoir 1 is intended to receive a charge of tooth paste, or other dentifrice. In order to prevent the hardening of the tooth paste within the reservoir by action of the atmosphere, the slot I is preferably closed by a illm or-thin strip 8 of material which will either break when pres- 40 sure is applied to the reservoir or which can be readily removed manually from its slot closing position.

In order to provide a device of this kind which can be used on fingers varying greatly in size, I I

have devised the form shown in Figures 3 and 4. In this second form of the invention, the cot i0 is provided with a rib ll extending lengthwise of the cot and adjacent the reservoir side thereof. Directly opposite the rib H the cot is bent inwardly to form a second and more flexible rib i2. It will be obvious from inspection oi Figure 4 of the drawing, that the rib l2 will yield to accommodate fingers of various sizes much more readily than would be the case in theform of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Numerous variations. may doubtless be devised by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the principles of my invention. 1, therefore, desire no limitations to be imposed on my invention, except such as are indicated in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

An articleof manufacture for cleaning and massaging the teeth and gums and comprising a finger cot receptacle made of resilient material, one side of said cot being thickened and having protuberances extending therefrom, a reservoir for tooth paste or the like formed in said side. said side having slits formed therethrough to communicate with said reservoir and normally closed by the resilience oi said material to prevent discharge of toothpaste from said reservoir and adapted to be opened by pressure applied to said reservoir to discharge paste therefrom,

means detachably connected to the outside of said cot to cover said slits, and arib formed on the 

